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US Decision Baaa-d for Inventions Replicating Nature

US Decision Baaa-d for Inventions Replicating Nature

In Re Roslin Institute, the U.S. Court of Appeals delivered a potential setback to the biotechnology industry when it confirmed that inventions which are identical to those found in nature cannot be patented. Specifically, it denied patent protection to products of the somatic cloning process invented by Campbell and Wilmut, which included Dolly the Sheep. Since Dolly possesses identical […]

The Italian Data Protection Authority on Google’s Privacy Policies

The Italian Data Protection Authority on Google’s Privacy Policies

The re-posting of this analysis is part of a cross-posting collaboration with MediaLaws: Law and Policy of the Media in a Comparative Perspective.   The Italian Data Protection Authority on Google’s privacy policies After an investigation started one year ago, following the modification of Google’s privacy policies, the Italian DPA has issued yesterday a new provision, […]

Transplanting the Canadian UGC Exception to Hong Kong: Part 3

Transplanting the Canadian UGC Exception to Hong Kong: Part 3

In Parts I and II of this series of blog posts, I discussed the ongoing digital copyright reform in Hong Kong. Specifically, I called for the transplant of the Canadian UGC exception to the jurisdiction, as part of an effort to enlarge the creative, political, social and cultural space of individual internet users.Since the last blog post, the Hong […]

MedEdge 2014 -- New Medical Innovations Bring Privacy Dangers

MedEdge 2014 -- New Medical Innovations Bring Privacy Dangers

The 2014 MedEdge Summit was a resounding success. Academics, innovators, entrepreneurs, and practitioners filled the auditorium and networking booths. As one of the lucky attendees, I zoomed in on Dr. Cafazzo’s talk about the significant lack of human use considerations (“reverse human engineering”) in the design of traditional medical products, and the introduction of new […]

Grand Theft Likeness: The Story of Lindsay Lohan and Lacey Jonas

Grand Theft Likeness: The Story of Lindsay Lohan and Lacey Jonas

Avid players of the popular video game Grand Theft Auto V may recognize this scenario: your character is tasked with transporting a female celebrity named Lacey Jonas home from where she is hiding in an alleyway. During the mission, you evade the paparazzi while Lacey spouts bons mots like "I'm really famous. I didn't do anything!" […]

Apotex Successfully Invalidates Patent on Nexium

Apotex Successfully Invalidates Patent on Nexium

AstraZeneca has been selling Nexium in Canada for 13 years.  It is prescribed to treat ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and related diseases. The active ingredient in Nexium is esomeprazole, one of the enantiomers of omeprazole.  Omeprazole is also prescribed to treat these same diseases. Canadian patent no. 2,139,653 (the 653 patent) claims esomeprazole with […]

Alice Corp., Software Patents, and Lighting the Rabbit Hole of Abstract Ideas

Alice Corp., Software Patents, and Lighting the Rabbit Hole of Abstract Ideas

It’s often hard to recognize the evolving nature of legal regimes amidst the fast-paced and so-called revolutionary social and technological changes facilitated by digital and networked technologies. Laws, norms, and conventions developed over centuries are being problematized and rethought as new social, technological, and economic realities emerge. Computer software, a technology that’s mainstream adoption is […]

The Washington Wrong-Skins: A Moral Victory over Tasteless Trademarks

The Washington Wrong-Skins: A Moral Victory over Tasteless Trademarks

The football field is for helmets not headdresses. In the much talked about June 18, 2014 decision in Blackhorse v Pro Football, Inc. the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) made a clear statement that culturally-insensitive trademarks would not be tolerated. The Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) decided to cancel six federal trademark […]